Himachal receives season's first snowfall

Published: Saturday, January 1, 2011, 19:00 [IST]

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Dharamsala, Jan 1 (ANI): The long wait for tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh's Dharamsala city was over on Saturday, as the region received its first snowfall of the season along with some heavy showers.

The weather added to their holiday mood of New Years, as the tourists and locals were seen enjoying the snowfall by making snowballs and throwing at each other.

"The environment has become good. It wasn't raining here for quite some time and this is the season's first rainfall. Snowfall began with the rainfall, the tourists are very happy about it and we are enjoying ourselves," said Pankaj, a tourist.

Children were seen enjoying the snowfall with their family members.

Joginder Pathania, an owner of a departmental store, said that the rainfall will bring relief to the farmers and locals in the region.

"For the last two days it had been raining and there was a good rainfall that McLeod Ganj received and the whole district of Kangra is experiencing rainfall. And the upper regions of Dharamkot and Kinnaur have received a lot of snowfall," said Pathania.

"Even at this time Kinnaur is covered with 3 feet snow. Even in Dharamkot villages the snow level is about 6 inches. We are expecting more tourists in the days to come. It is also good for the crop and will solve the problem of water shortage," he added.

Mild snowfall in the higher reaches of the Himalayas and intermittent rain in foothills of the state, including Shimla, Kasauli, Kufri, Palampur and Chamba districts, brought the temperatures down sharply. (ANI)